The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1887-10-26
MR.. DAVIS At MACON.

Mr.. DAVIS At MACON.
Intense Excitement and Touching Scenes
al the Johnston Mansion.
Correspondence Globe Democrat, Macon. Ga,
Oct. 26.
From the Confederate monument to .Hiu
Crest, az MIR. JOhnston's manson ID caAeo,
is nearly half q mile. Most OF the way is up
an easy grade. The wide thoroughfare forks
lawn sloping down to the iron fence, STANDS IDS
Hill Crest" The manslon Is back 1Ou
wards vr more from the fence, and consider
ably above the roadway. 1t is massive;
modern built home, with porch III font. A
driveway opens upon the left. circles AROUND
in front of the house, and extends to an exit
on the right fork of the road.
1t was the plan that the procession SHOULD
pass up one fork OF The avenue enter by ne
driveway and march by the front OF the
house, going cut on IN the TVIe eao .na hi. aids
reuched the fork in the road large easy
chair, upholstered in bright colors. was
brought out and placed about the middle OF
the porch and close to the balus!r!de. The
branch Of the avenue leading to the gate. At
that moment the front door OF the, house
opened and Mr.. Davis walked out, leaning
on the arm of Mr.. Johnson: Mrs. Davis and
her daughter. with Coy. Gordon, senator
Mr.. Davis was placed in the arm chair as
soon as he reached it. Somebody brought
another chair, and Mrs. DAVIS sat at her
husbands left. The eX-Presdent wore SUIT
OF black, and had thrown about his shoulders
a cape overcoat of gray. His hat was q low
crowned derby. His face underneath, with
the cropped gray whiskers, looked thin and
pinched.
But what WIS happening, down the road
At the very fret glimpse OF MIR. Davis as ne
fkar N a
yell beside which all former efforts of the day
had been puny indeed. 1t was yell which
didn't rise and fall. 1t rose to height sud
denly and it stayed. Mr.. Davis had not taken
two steps toward the easy chair when the vet
Grams began to tumble and come up the lawn
|, in a wild charge, every one OF them Yelling.
The marshals and the subordinate COM
manders strove to maintain the columns, but
the ranks thinned rapidly. The skirmishers,
the SCOUTS and suerrllas, who had va li'
ciplined had been forming in the, mud, we're
the ones who started the mad rush.
Then those in line couldn't wait. They
broke away, and over the iron fence they
came pell nell, tearing clothes and scratch
would have been nowhere in face of such q
charge. MacOns finest were swept out OF
their way in an instant. =,
1t had been arranged that Mr.. DAVIS should
sit quietly in the easy chair, and, without
z,
here was an unlooked-for situation. The re-
view had been transformed into charge.
When Mr.. Davis heard that yell he raised hls
hat and bowed, and when he saw that SOLID
mass come up the lawn he leaned forward ": Ar
in reach first found the ex-President upon
his feet with both hands stretching down to
grasp theirs.
STRUGGLING HUMANITY.
For many minutes stout men struggled and
crowded with all their strength to grasp the
pale effeminate looking hands, but those who
ment. Mrs. Davis, whose emotions had over
come her at the very outset Of the demons
'stration, saw through her tears that there
was danger Of injury to her husband; She
in hers, drew them away by msin strength
from the wringing grasps Of the veterans,
and extended her own plump fingers to be
squeezed. Miss Winnie. too, pushed in on
| the other side. in front of her father, and
grabbing the hands reached up, shook them
wreathed in smiles. On Miss Winnies left
| her sister, Mrs. Hayes, assisted in the shak-
ing.
the &c, ex-Presiaent they could talk to him.
God smile upon you as you are SMILING
OF us to-day, I" shouted one. old fellow, witt,
| the tears streaming down his cheeks.
OF course. Mr., Davis had to shake hands in
response to such q sentiment, and he did il
by reaching out between the dresses Of his
wife and daughter. That started the. vete-
rams again, and they were after his hands
wi.derth than ever. There we're intervals when
some sennblance of order WAS restored, and
several delegations marched by in good
Davis would straighten up. and respond
| with military bearing. But something would
happen, and another rush to the railing OF
| the porch would occur.
| SENATOR CoLQUITT's EFFORT.
Once Senator Colquitt climbed upon the
balustrade'at the left of the Davis family ant
made little speech intended ss an appeal,
but so full OF Confederate ardor that it onl!
added fuel to the fame. The Senator said:
II appeal to you as old Confeds while VIZ
love and venerate our old chleftain, we mus
endeavor to protect his health and perpetuatt
his life to q green old age
Voices-Thank God
Senator Colquitt-It ia impossible for thi
vast concourse to shake hands with him
While we conmenathe endeavor to show oul
spirit of love for him, let me beg OF you to de
sist from shaking his hand. Shout for him
worship HIM, but don't attempt to take hin
by the hand.
The veterans responded by pressing for
ward with lnore, wild zeal than ever. Til,
reached over the heads Of those in front ana
dropped the tatterel old ralic in front Of
Mrs. Davis. She lett off shaking hands t.
reich out and taka hold of the flag. or wha
was left of it. ,iTtaring from one of the rib
bon-like strips a tfrag nent, ahe pressed it t.
her lps fervcrsly and then placeG it careful
ly in her bosom.
This brought Mr.. Davis to his feet. III,
is gong to speak, be silent" Senator Col
quit shouted. Then for the first time Their,
came hush, and MIR. Davis said:
Friends and Brethren-I am like that flag
torn and battered by storms and years.
love it tor its own 81 Ike; / love it for yours
1 love 1t as a mamento OF What your father
laid and hoped that you would do. God bles
you. Twill sec YOU again.,
srI,iKING INCIDENTS
| As he finished Mr.. Davis reached ont and
With the help. of those about him, took tn
old flag. in his arms and pressed it to hi
bosom, burying his face and streaming eye
in its folds. At the same time Miss Winni
leaned over and kissed the flag. Then it wa
handed back to the flag bearer, and the Ihir,
Georgia moved ON, the proudest men anon,
all the thousands. ~" 40.
More rapidly thanithey cnn be told strihin
incidents trarspired. One stump-armed RET
eran caused a bfcezein the ranks and one o
the periodical rusheS against the porch b
lifting his twelve year uld boy above his hea
and bearing him hastily forward to receive ;
touch upon the head by the ex-Prcsident.
A crippled veteran, who couldn't get near
held out his cane and Mr.. Davis took hold Q
the knob and shook it. Then Miss Winni
shook it. The veteran drew it back, place,
the head to his lips and kissed it.
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